Pettigrew gives back gold from Sydney

Antonio Pettigrew agreed yesterday to return the Olympic relay gold medal he won in 2000 after admitting to doping during the Sydney Games. During last month's trial involving former track coach Trevor Graham, Pettigrew came clean about using EPO and human growth hormone from 1997 to 2003. Pettigrew's decision came a day after one of his relay teammates in Sydney, Michael Johnson, said he would voluntarily give his medal back in the wake of Pettigrew's testimony . . . British sprinter Dwain Chambers will challenge his lifetime ban by the British Olympic Association at London's High Court in a bid to compete in Beijing . . . Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, fresh off setting the world record in the 100 meters last weekend, backed off from his earlier guarantees that he'll run the 100 at the Beijing Games. Bolt said he plans to run both the 100 and 200 (his specialty) in the Jamaican nationals this month to keep his options open.

Police investigators are growing impatient with Bills running back Marshawn Lynch and his failure to meet with them more than three days after his vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run accident. Buffalo Police Department spokesman Mike DeGeorge suggested that Lynch could face an obstruction of justice charge if he doesn't cooperate. Lynch took part in the Bills' voluntary practice yesterday morning after arriving about 10 minutes late . . . Terrell Owens officially signed his three-year, $27 million contract extension with the Cowboys, which includes a $7 million signing bonus . . . Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard skipped the team's voluntary workout amid dissatisfaction with his contract and uncertainty about his role. Sheppard lost his starting position when the team signed former Patriot Asante Samuel in the offseason . . . Packers running back Noah Herron thwarted a burglar by hitting him with a bed post during a break-in at his home late last Friday. The intruder remained hospitalized but is expected to recover . . . The Texans have signed general manager Rick Smith to a four-year contract extension.

Even the durable Ryan Zimmerman couldn't avoid the Washington Nationals' disabled list parade. Zimmerman was shelved for the first time in his career, landing on the 15-day DL because of a small tear in his left, nonthrowing shoulder. The Nationals now have five members of their Opening Day starting lineup on the DL. Zimmerman recently ended a streak of 205 consecutive games played, and his shoulder hasn't been the same since a headfirst slide at Baltimore May 18. He had missed seven straight games. The DL move is retroactive to May 26 . . . Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook was put back on the 15-day DL, this time because of an inflamed right elbow. The righthander was on the DL from April 20 to May 28 with a strained muscle in his left side . . . Yankees manager Joe Girardi said catcher Jorge Posada could come off the DL today and play tomorrow against Toronto . . . White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he and general manager Kenny Williams have cleared the air after Guillen's rant Sunday in which he said Williams needed to make personnel changes.

Prosecutors in New York say disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy should get a break at his sentencing for coming clean about his role in a gambling scandal. A letter from the US Attorney's office to a judge was unsealed, and it credits Donaghy with voluntarily providing information that led to indictments and guilty pleas of a professional gambler and an associate. The letter says the defendant met with investigators four times to brief them on how he took cash payoffs from gamblers and even bet on games himself. Donaghy has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges. He faces up to 33 months in prison, but his lawyer has asked for probation . . . In the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx ran their franchise-best start to 5-0, beating the host Atlanta Dream, 85-81. In other games, the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Washington Mystics, 98-93, at home; the New York Liberty took a 77-63 home win over the Seattle Storm; the Los Angeles Sparks beat the host Chicago Sky, 81-77, in overtime; and the Houston Comets pulled out a 75-72 victory over the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars.

Max Mosley won a vote of confidence to remain president of the Federation International de l'Automobile, despite being involved in a sex scandal. In protest, the German motoring federation broke off cooperation with the sport's governing body. In a secret ballot at a specially convened assembly in Paris of the national federations and motoring bodies that make up the FIA, the vote was 103-55 - with seven abstentions and four invalid votes - in Mosley's favor. The 68-year-old Englishman now appears set to continue leading motor racing's governing body through October 2009 when his fourth term ends . . . Philadelphia Flyers right wing Sami Kapanen, 34, retired from the NHL and plans to return to Finland and play for a team he owns . . . Katie Burkhart threw a four-hitter as Arizona State (66-5) claimed its first Women's College World Series softball title with an 11-0 win over Texas A&M in Oklahoma City.